Thomas McNulty is the founder of Spotlight on Hope, an organization based in Orchard Park that helps nonprofit organizations produce various types of media within their budget. Photo by Scott Schild. Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com Not-for-profit agencies face many challenges while striving to make a difference in the communities or world around them.

Tight budgets and sometimes limited resources, paired with a less-than-thriving economy and state and federal funding cutbacks, can make advertising, publicity and other forms of media seem nearly impossible to produce, but that is where Spotlight on Hope steps in to lend a helping hand to those who are helping others.

Spotlight on Hope, whose offices are located in Orchard Park, was founded in 2005 by

Thomas McNulty. The organization, like the ones it helps, is a not-for-profit agency.

Its primary goal is to provide not-for-profits the opportunity to have media produced for their organization that falls within their budget.

“We often see a company that is a not-for-profit that thinks film will be too expensive for them,” said McNulty.

“But they can sit down with us, and we will come up with a creative way to do it.”

According to a press release from Spotlight on Hope, shooting on the location of the client and eliminating elaborate settings and makeup are just some of the ways that overhead is kept to a minimum so that productions can be done in a cost-effective way.

Much of the film that is facilitated by Spotlight on Hope is produced by David Collins Productions. “David has been a treasure to work with because, not only does he have great talent and support staff, he truly has a soft spot and understanding of the mission of the organizations,” said McNulty. Once the films have been produced, they are posted online to sites such as YouTube and Facebook to maximize exposure and minimize costs, as these sites are free.

During the last seven years, Spotlight on Hope has produced media for organizations such as Gilda’s Club WNY, Northwest Community Health and the Mental Health Association of Erie County. The organization has also collaborated extensively with Music is Art, a nonprofit and cultural organization that was founded by Goo Goo Dolls’ bassist Robby Takac.

Currently, the organization has two major projects in the works, including a new documentary on bullying, which promises to provide a new perspective on the issue, and an educational piece on the interconnection of medical and mental health related to healthy eating.

While film is a large portion of Spotlight’s focus, the organization deals in essentially every type of media, including theater, music, photography, dance and radio to advance the messages and interests of local nonprofits.

“We’re finding new ways of using dance or theater or film to capture people’s attention and get them critical information,” McNulty said. “We are trying to use the way people want to be communicated with today, the MTV generation, who might not sit down and just read a brochure or listen to a lecture.”

Specifically, Spotlight on Hope produces Spotlight on Health, a radio program that airs on 96.1 JOY-FM.

The program has played host to a variety of figures, from former Buffalo Sabre Grant Ledyard to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and covers a range of health issues that may be pertinent to people in the area.

Ultimately, Spotlight on Hope aims to help local nonprofits raise awareness and sometimes funding in ways that they might never have thought possible.

“We ask them, ‘What do you want to achieve?’” said McNulty. “Then we come back to them with an idea that is cost-effective and fulfills their goals.”

Those associated with a local nonprofit organization that is looking for help with media output, or anyone desiring more information on Spotlight on Hope, may visit its website at www.spotlightonhope.org.

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